Fall 2020 PHIL 1313.64304: Logic and Critical Thinking

This course offers an introduction to some of the fundamentals of both informal and formal logic. To aid you, I have created powerpoints, instructional videos, additional exercises beyond those in the textbook, practice tests, etc.. I am also available through the day to answer emails.

To begin:

(1) read through the syllabus,

(2) enter the assignment dates on your personal calendar,

(3) familiarize yourself with the online course materials,

(4) view the “Welcome” Powerpoint

Contact me at: [email protected] if you have any questions. SYLLABUS: PHIL 1313 (ONLINE - FALL 2020)

Instructor: Lawrence Pasternack, Ph.D. Email: [email protected] (email me with course content questions as they come up. Through much of the day, I usually can respond right away. Evening emails will usually receive a response the next morning.)

ZOOM: if you need help with any course content, email me. Sometimes your issues can be addressed via email, but we can also meet via Zoom. I am usually free 11am-3pm MWF and 11am-2pm TR. If you want to meet, contact me early in the day or a day prior.

Grader: Sarah Mutschelknaus, M.A. – [email protected]

Course Canvas Web Site accessed via: canvas.okstate.edu

Note: Canvas auto-grades the quizzes and some elements of the tests, the grader will be grading the exercises and tests based upon answer keys from Dr. Pasternack.

Required Text • Moore and Parker, Critical Thinking, 12th Edition. ISBN 978-1259690877

OPTIONAL: “Connect Access Code for the 12th Edition” ISBN 978-1259845789

Recommended Resources There are numerous websites devoted to both informal and formal logic. Some will overlap with course content. You can google “list of ,” or look for videos on diagraming, truth tables, etc.. Many will be helpful, but feel free to ask me if you’re not sure about what you found. You will also find a list of suggested sites on our course website.

Course Description This course provides you with the opportunity to discover and develop various techniques of critical thinking. You will be introduced to some of the basic elements of both informal and formal logic. Informal logic includes the identification of fallacies in , rhetorical devices, and criteria for weighing the strength of arguments. Formal logic uses variables and operators to represent argument patterns, much in the same way that algebraic variables and operators represent numerical equations. Success in this course will depend upon your ability to learn and apply its principles and techniques. There is an old cliche that your brain is a muscle and must be exercised. This is an apt metaphor for this course. Through practice, you will develop greater ability to recognize and correct vague and ambiguous claims, see through rhetoric, avoid fallacies, and rigorously test arguments for validity. Remember through the course: exercises are crucial for skill development. This especially applies to the argument diagraming (Chapter 2), Rhetoric/ identification (Chapters 5-7), Formal Translation and Truth Tables (Chapter 10).

1 Online Issues and Requirements

Software

• Handouts and practice tests are in .pdf format. You will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available online for free. Go to: http://www.adobe.com/products/reader/

• There is also a PowerPoint file for each chapter. In addition to MS PowerPoint, there are freeware powerpoint viewers. Go to the Microsoft Download Center and search for the “powerpoint viewer”: http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/

• Videos will be available on YouTube. You probably already have it, but if you do not, you need the Adobe Flash Player: http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/

For help with internet and software issues, contact 405-744-HELP or email [email protected]

Proctor

No Proctors are needed. All work is completed online.

Submission Box (Drop Box)

The submission box will be used for submitting exercises. I would prefer that all submissions use MS Word, Word Perfect, or Adobe Acrobat (.doc, .docx, wpd, .pdf). If necessary, a .jpeg/.jpg/.tiff scan is acceptable as well.

Quizzes and Tests

• Quizzes and tests are taken online. For the most part, they will be true/false and multiple- choice.

Email, Phone & Chat Policies

Emails will typically be answered within 24 hours. If you need to speak with me, we can arrange a time to do so.

2 Schedule of Readings and Assignments (subject to revision)

Recommended Weekly Routine

1. Read the chapter 2. View the PowerPoint and/or videos 3. Complete the textbook exercises listed below 4. Take the online quiz (and extra-credit work if listed) Note: TAKE THE CHAPTER QUIZ ONLY AFTER YOU COMPLETE THE PERTINENT READINGS, POWERPOINTS, AND SET OF TEXTBOOK EXERCISES.

(***Chapters/Pagination follow Custom Edition Table of Contents***) PART ONE: ARGUMENT TYPES AND TERMINOLOGY

Topic Recommended Textbook Exercises Graded Assignment Due

8/17-9/4 Chapter One (p. 1-10) Some Basics 1-1, 1-5, 1-6, 1-11 demo & cpt 1 quiz 9/4

9/5-9/11 Chapter Two Argument Form 2-1 to 2-5, 2-8 to 2-10, 2-15 to 2-18 cpt 2 quiz 9/11

Diagraming Exercise Ex.Cred.Exercise 9/11

9/12-9/18 Chapter Three Clarity 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-8, 3-9 cpt 3 quiz 9/18 Test #1 chapters 1-3 TEST #1 9/25

PART TWO: RHETORIC AND FALLACIES

9/26-10/2 Chapter Five Rhetoric 5-1, 5-4, 5-11, 5-20 to 5-22 cpt 5 quiz 10/2

10/3-10/9 Chapter Six Fallacies Go to page 188 (100 examples) cpt 6 quiz 10/9

10/10 - 16 Chapter Seven Fallacies Go to page 213 (125 examples) cpt 7 quiz 10/16

Rhet. & Fallacies Exercise Ex.Cred.Exercise #2 10/16 Test #2 chapters 5-7 TEST #2 10/23

PART THREE: FORMAL LOGIC

10/24-11/6 Cpt. Ten (up to p. 298) Translation 10-1, 10-3, 10-4, 10-10 Cpt 10 quiz #1 11/6

Translation Exercise Ex.Cred.Exercise #3 11/6

11/7-11/20 Chapter Ten (305-313) Truth Tables 10-9* 10-11* + more online Cpt 10 quiz #2 11/20

Truth Table Exercise Ex.Cred.Exercise #4 11/30

Test #3 Chapter 10 TEST #3 12/9

* complete exercises 10-9, 10-11 using both the long and short table methods.

3 GRADED ASSIGNMENTS

Chapter Quizzes 100 points • The quizzes can be found online using the “Quiz” link towards the top of the screen. • First, there is demo quiz to make sure you become familiar with the Canvas system. • You will then have quizzes for chapters 1,2,3,5,6,7, and 10. • Note that there will be TWO quizzes for Chapter 10. • These quizzes are core comprehension quizzes for the chapter contents. With the exception of the demo quiz and the quiz for chapter one, you will only have one opportunity to take the quiz. However, you will have ample time (thirty minutes) to take it. Each should only take a few minutes. The demo quiz can be taken up to 3 times and the quiz for chapter one you can take up to 2 times. These extra chances are to make sure you get the hang of taking quizzes online. • You may use the textbook or notes while taking the quizzes. The demo quiz is based on this syllabus. • You can take quizzes early, but you must complete the quiz by 11:59pm on the day scheduled (see prior page). • Quizzes will not be available after the due date.

Tests 300 points • There are three tests: Chapters 1-3, Chapters 5-7, Chapter 10. • Tests are worth 100 points each. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the practice tests available online through Canvas. The format of the actual tests will closely resemble the practice tests. Tests are to be taken on the date indicated on the previous page. You may choose the time best suited to your schedule. Tests are designed to be completed within one hour.

Total: 400 points Grading Scale (for final grades): A=400-360, B=359-320, C=319-280, D=279-240, F=0-239

4 EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENTS

Self-Assessment Exercises 20 points total • There are four extra-credit exercises, which can be found on Canvas in the course CONTENTS section under the header “Graded Course Exercises.” Each of the four exercises is worth 5 points. • See the “Schedule of Readings and Assignments” for their deadlines. • The purpose of these exercises is self-assessment, which in turn can help motivate you to develop your skills prior to the tests. Your grade will be based upon your completion of that assessment rather than how many questions you got right or wrong. • Exercise #1 is related to argument diagraming in chapter 2. Exercise #2 is related to fallacy and rhetoric identification in chapters 5-7. Exercises #3 and #4 are related to formal logic in chapter 10. Many students wait until too late before starting chapter 10 and just don’t give themselves enough time to learn its contents. You should start this chapter as soon as possible and spend as much time as you can with it, especially practicing the long and short table methods. • Do not confuse these exercises with the exercises in the textbook. Textbook exercises are important for your skill development, but textbook exercises do not have to be submitted. • INSTRUCTIONS: (a) view the instructions and questions (b) answer the questions (be sure to use a file type you can upload) (c) THEN, open the answer key and check your answers (d) write up a self-assessment, identifying which questions you got right and wrong, where your strengths and weaknesses are, and what you need to review before the test (see sample below). Your discussion of your strengths and weaknesses need only be a few sentences to a short paragraph (i.e. 50-150 words). Upload your self-assessment into the appropriate Canvas drop box (most file formats are fine). Exercises must be submitted by 11:59pm on the day scheduled (see prior page).

Sample Exercise Self-Assessment Submission Questions ______were answered correctly, but ______were incorrect. I think that I got them wrong because I didn’t yet understand/was confused by/had not yet learned to.______. For example, I thought the right answer for question ______was ______because I incorrectly thought that ______. Hence, in preparation for the test, I need to spend more time working on ______and will work on textbook exercise sets ______and ______to help me master ______.

Practice Tests 30 points total • On Canvas, you can find practice tests for each of the three tests for this course. The answer keys for the practice tests are also available on Canvas. You will receive 10 bonus points per test if you: take the practice test, self-grade it, and then submit a self-assessment of your test performance. Similar to the exercise self-assessment statement above, your practice test self-assessment should summarize general strengths and weaknesses, and provide a plan of action to address these weaknesses. • To receive extra credit, practice tests self-assessments must be submitted in the appropriate Canvas drop box at least 2 days before the respective test. • You do not need to upload your practice test or answers. You only need to submit a summary statement and self-assessment. Bonus points are based on the submission of this statement, not performance (i.e. if you write a self-assessment and only got 35% on the practice test, you still will receive all 10 bonus points).

5 POLICIES

Deadlines • Quizzes cannot be taken late. • Tests can be rescheduled if you have a conflict, usually one day in either direction. • Please avoid scheduling anything which conflicts with taking your test as scheduled. Compare the course schedule to your personal and work schedules to ensure your availability on the test days. • Extra Credit work (Exercises and Practice Tests) must be submitted by their designated deadlines. Late extra credit work will not receive a grade.

Academic Integrity • Students are expected to familiarize themselves with the University’s policy on academic honesty and scrupulously abide by it. The two most common forms of academic misconduct/ dishonesty are cheating and plagiarism. Cheating is the use or attempted use of unauthorized materials during a test (or similar assignment) or the copying or attempted copying from another student’s test (or similar assignment). Plagiarism is the use of unacknowledged materials as part of an essay (or similar assignment). Most often, plagiarism takes the form of copying verbatim or near verbatim material from the Internet or published sources and presenting that material without suitable citation of its source. Be warned that I believe that the most stringent disciplinary action is almost always warranted. • It is expected that some students may choose to work together on course material. Sometimes that can be very beneficial. However, all graded assignments must arise out of independent efforts. Students should not submit any graded assignment that is a product of joint work.

6 Complete Table of Course Contents (12th Edition of Critical Thinking)

Note: I have culled from the textbook what I see as the most useful, interesting & important concepts. Use this list as your guide throughout the course. It includes ALL the material you will be tested on.

Chapter 1: Some Critical Thinking Basics Beliefs & Claims Objective vs. Subjective Claims Chapter 7: Induction Fallacies Fact & Opinion Hasty Generalization (incl. Anecdote) Issue & Argument Biased Generalization Premise & Conclusion Weak Analogy

Chapter 2: Argument Types and Diagraming Fallacious Appeal to Authority Deductive & Inductive Arguments Argument from Popularity Unstated Premises Argument from Common practice Validity & Soundness Argument from Tradition Strong vs. Weak Arguments IBE/Abductive Arguments, Balance of Considerations Cum Hoc Fallacy Argument Diagraming Post Hoc Fallacy

Chapter 3: and Vagueness & Ambiguity Semantic, Syntactic and Grouping Ambiguity Chapter 10: Formal Logic Chapter 5: Rhetorical Devices Translation to propositional form Rhetorical vs. Logical Force Truth-functional definitions of operators Euphemism Constructing Truth Tables Dysphemism Testing for Validity using Truth Tables Weaselers Long Table Method Downplayers Short Table Method Innuendo Rhetorical Analogies, Definitions, Explanations Proof Surrogates “Otherizing”

Chapter 6: Fallacies of Relevance Personal Poisoning the Well Guilt by Association Perfectionist Fallacy Line-Drawing Fallacy Misplaced Burden of Proof Fallacious Appeal to Ignorance Fallacious Appeals to Emotion Outrage, Scare Tactics, Pity, Guilt, Apple Polishing, Envy/Jealousy, , Peer Pressure

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